Genetic Testing for Personalized Nutrition: Do our genes determine what we should eat? with Ahmed El-Sohemy, PhD, from HEALCon 2021. Take this quiz to earn 1.5 NANP CECs.
Sciences from the University of Toronto and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard. His research aims to understand how genetic differences modify the response to diet for optimal health and performance. Dr. El-Sohemy has published over 175 peer-reviewed articles, given over 200 invited talks, and received many awards for excellence in research from the Canadian Nutrition Society and the American College of Nutrition. He is the founder of Nutrigenomix Inc.
Presentation Description:
There is increasing awareness among researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, and consumers that the one-size-fits-all, population-based approach to nutritional guidance is inefficient and sometimes ineffective. Numerous studies have now shown that variations in certain genes can explain why some individuals respond differently from others to the same foods, beverages, and supplements they consume for health. Randomized controlled trials of genetic information on personalized nutrition also showed that giving DNA-based dietary advice is superior to population-based recommendations for improving compliance. Many consumer genetic testing services for health and wellness are available, but their clinical utility and validity remain controversial. With increasing consumer demand, there is a need for nutrition professionals to have sufficient knowledge to understand the science behind these tests, determine their benefits and limitations, and learn which ones provide clinically actionable information.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain a better understanding of the science behind genetic variation and how this can
affect nutritional requirements, eating behaviors, food intolerances, and other factors
associated with fitness and performance. - Understand how to incorporate genetic testing for personalized nutrition into practice
as a new service for the population you work with (general health, weight loss, athletes). - Recognize the strengths and limitations of consumer genetic testing, what genetic tests
can and cannot tell us, and what to look for when choosing a nutrigenomics test.
